Method and means for preparing stereotype matrices for multicolor printing



Aug. 20', 1935. A. LENGEL ET AL 2,011,584

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING STEREOTYPE MATRICES FOR MULTICOLORPRINTING Filed D90. 24, 1931 2 s t s l [7 INVENTORS I 1 2M. %.M

g- 1935.. A. L. LENGEL AL METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREP NG STE TYPE MATRICESMULTICOLOR PRINTI Fil D96. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS PatentedAug. 20, 1935 in time and labor while assuring a more accurate- UNlTE'DSTATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING s'ranuomn MATRICESFOR MULTI- COLOR PRINTING Albert L. Lengel, Oakland, Calif., and ErnestG. Beveridge, Glen Ridge, N. J., assignors to B. Hoe & 00., Inc., NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York; Irving Trust Company, permanenttrustee Application December 24, 1931, Serial No. 582,912

8'Claims. (01. 33-1845) This invention in general relates to devicesemployed in multi-color" printing, having for its object the provisionof a device particularly designed and adapted to insure thecorrecttrimming of a series of matrices for use in the casting of plates sothat the latter can be secured in correct register on the printingcylinder for the printing of the several colors required incorresponding register.

Another object is to provide a novel register rack of comparativelysimple design and construction for use in the preparation of plates formulticolor printing that will effect a substantial saving registering ofthe images and characters in the several colors on the finished platesthan possible with conventional methods heretofore employed.

A further object is to provide a device of the kind indicated adapted tosuitably mark or out each of a plurality of matrices so that the imagesinexpensive in construction, as well as convenient,

practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrange,- ments of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that various changes-in theprecise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be.

made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention,

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

'Figure -l is a top plan view of an embodiment of our inventionoperatively appliedto a matrix;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of theinvention in position toreceive or remove a matrix;

figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device taken on line 3-3of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line'44ofl='igure 1; IFigure 5 is aview similar to Figure 4 taken on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Figure 1;andv Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view,

partly in section, as viewed in the direction of the arrow 1 of Figure6.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts, in the several views of the preferred form of theinvention, ll designates a base plate of any suitable material uponwhich a matrix may be placed. Rockingly secured to an edge of the baseplate I l by a hinge I2 is a frame l3 which, as shownin Figure 1, may beof a rectangular configuration. The frame I3 is formed of side or endmembers M, l5; and back and front members I6, I! respectively, which maybe of channel or angle iron construction or other suitable materialsecured at their ends to form the said frame 13.

Upon the back member 15 and arranged longitudinally thereon, a bar orshaft I8 is rotatably mounted in a plurality of supporting bracket orhearing guides l9 fastened on the back member l6. Upon the shaft I8, aplurality of gears or wheels provided with gear segments are fastened sothat when an operating lever 2| fastened to the shaft I8 is manipulated,the said gears 20 will be ing and cutting lower end of each of theshearing punches I II, as it engages and cuts or punches the margin ofthe matrix hereinafter described,

which as best shown in Flgure'3, is positioned adjacent to or slightlyunder the edge of the frame member l6 and over socket members 26 securedin countersunk portions 21 of the base plate H in any suitable manner,as by .the screws 28. The

pockets provided by the socket members 25 receive the shearing ends 25of the punches In as ing the margin of the matrix.

Another of the gears 20 on the shaft 18, mentioned above, is coactinglyengaged with a rack segment on 'a reciprocating shearing or markingpunch l0 mounted at one end of the side member 14, the tapering orshearing lower end of which (not shown), being similarly received inthey descend downwardly while cutting or punchv a socket (not shown)secured to the base plate in the'manner described above.

By further reference to Figure 1 and as shown in detail in Figures 4 and6, it will be seen that we have provided a pair of wires 29, 30,arranged I in transverse relation, which play an important part incorrectly determining the central position of a matrix 3|, which may beassumed to be the key or black plate matrix, superimposed upon the baseplate II for a purpose hereinafter described. As clearly shown in detailin Figure 4, the wire 29 is secured at either end to a block 32, whichis slidably confined in the channel provided by each of the side or endframe members |4, |5,' these latter being preferably of angle or channeliron construction. Theblocks 32 have threaded apertures therethroughwhich receive the reduced threaded stems 33 of bolts 34, which areslidable in slots 35 formed in the sides of the frame members l4, l5.The enlarged portion of the stem of each of the bolts 34 is engagedagainst the exterior surface of thesaid frame members I4 and I5,adjacent the said slot 35. To secure the blocks 32 in fixed positionwhen the wire 29 has been centered or placed at the desired position, asindicated on the scales 36 provided on each of the frame members |4, |5,a set screw 31, the stem of which is threaded in a hole arranged in eachof the members |4, I5, is engaged against the top of each block 32 inorder to fix the latter and consequently the wire 29 in the positiondesired.

The wire 30, which is also adjustable, is secured at either end 'to asmall plate 38 having-a slot 39'and arranged over another plate or stripof metal 40, slidably secured to the front frame member I] by screws 4|,riding in slots 42, formed in the plate 40 and threadedly engaged inholes (not shown) in the frame members I6 and H.

The plate 38, asindicated above, is adjustable relatively to the lowerplate 48 by means of a screw 4| seated on a washer '43, the said upperplate 38 resting on'the lower plate 40, the screw 4| riding in the slot39 and being threadedly engaged with the lower plate 48. By the abovemeans, the wire 38 can be tightened or loosened as desired, which isaccomplished by first loosening the screw 4| and then moving one or bothof the upper plates 38 transversely relatively to the lower plates 48,after which the screw is tightened. In addition, the wire 39 can becentered on and moved relatively to the scales 44 secured on framemembers l6, IT, by manipulation of the screws 4|, thus permitting theplates 40, I which carry the wire bearing upper plates 38, to

be moved or slid longitudinally along the front frame member In order tocorrectly mark or out each of a plurality of similar matrices employedin multi-color printing preparatory to trimming, we have providt ed aplurality of adjustable position-indicating members 45 which areadjustably secured to the side or end frame members I4 and I5. Theposition-indicating members 45 each consist of a pair of links or arms46, 47, each provided with a slot 48, 49 respectively, and adjustablyjoined one to gaged against the upper link 41, the head of the screw 50'being similarly engaged against the lower link 45. Each of. theposition-indicating members 45 or ratherthe lower'link 45 thereof, isswingingly mounted on either of the side frame members l4 and by thesame means described above for securing both links 46, 41 together; i.e., a screw 58' and adjusting nut 5|f,- it being observed that theposition-indicating members 45 are arranged in pairs on each of the sideor end members I4, l5. Secured tothe ends of each of I the upper links41 of the members 45, is a needle or point 52 which may be placed at apredetermined point on the matrix 3|, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Upon the front frame member l1, means are provided for lifting orswinging the frame I3 and for securing same in fixedposition upon thebase plate H, which consists in a handle 53 secured to the said memberI! and serving as a convenient means for raising or lowering the same.For locking the frame I3 to the base plate any suitable means may beemployed, which in the present instance, consists ofa spring-pressedplunger 54 positioned in a pocket 55 provided in the base plate II, theplunger 54 having a handle or knob 56 for convenient-manipulationthereof. As best shown in Figure 6, the exterior end of thespring-operated plunger 54, where it joins the knob 56, is received in asmall pocket 51, provided by an outward flaring 58 of the lowerdepending end of the angle iron member forming the front frame memberI7, and a flange 59 formed on a longitudinally positioned short strip 68secured to the bottom of the base plate H. end of the plunger 54,mentioned above, it will be seen, is clampingly engaged in the pocket51, mentioned above, thereby maintaining the frame I3 in locked positionto thebase plate H, as shown in Figure 6. When it is desired to raise orangle the frame l3, the manipulating handle or knob 56 of the plunger 54will be pressed inwardly, the reduced stem 6| of the knob 55 passingthrough an opening provided between the adjacent flared end 58 of theframe member J1 and the flange 59 of strip 50. The pressing inwardly ofthe plunger The exterior- 54 will remove the outer end of the largediam- In operation, the key or black plate matrices are firstcenter-lined and thenput in the rack so thatthe center lines on thematrix 'will coincide with the center wires 29, 38 of the frame l3; Theregistration needles or points 52 are next set to the desired points onthe characters of the matrix 3| by manipulation of the adjustable linksl-3, 41, after which the operating lever-2| controlling the operatlon ofthe shearing punches or cutting, blades l8 and -||l' is manipulated tocut or mark the matrix 3| as a guide where it is for the other or colormatrices.

in turn in the rack andthe color characters matrix 3| on two sides, asindicated "by the position of the parts in Figure 1-, the two cutson c65 Each of the color plate mats are ,next'placed -of the images onthefinished plates which are obtained from the matrices.

In preparing the plates from the matrices, it is of course, necessarythat they be cast and finished insuch manner that they can be placdonthe printing cylinders against fixed stops with aview to the printing ofthe several colors in correct register. For this purpcse, it isnecessary that the matrix for each' color be trimmed about the fouredges with definite relation to certain chosen register points. One ofthese latter might be the intersection oftwo definite lines in thepicture or any prominent spot conveniently located. As mentioned above,the key or black plate matrix is preferably taken first, and thencenterlined,

after which certain points are selected as register points, beforemarking or cutting the margins or edges of the matrix preparatory totrimming in a squaring machine. The color plate matrices are next takenup in turn, and the margins or edges marked or out after the registerpoints are located, which is done conveniently and quickly bymanipulating the position-indicating members 45 until the needles orpoints 52 are over the points previously selected on the key or blackplate matrix. i 7

Up to the present time, in multi-color printing,

particularly of the type required in modern newspaper color supplementsin which a number of I impressions are made from similar plates, it hasbeen customary to employ dividers with aview to determining thecorrectregister points on each of the similar matrices employed so that the,

images in colors on the plates prepared from the matrices willcorrespondingly register. As speed is an essential requirement ofnewspaper work, the loss of time incurred by the use of dividers,

etc., in determining the register points on matrices preparatory to thepreparation of the plates therefrom has been a source of delay which itwas'felt a more improved meansv and method could obviate. In addition tothis, an accurate determination of the correct register points by theuse of dividers as mentioned above has been I found impractical underthe conditions met with in present-day multi-color printing,particularly for newspapers and magazines.

The present methodand construction permits not only a far moreconvenient and expeditious method of preparing matrices than thecomparatively clumsy and inefiicient methods nowcon- -ventional which,among others, make use of dividers, etc., but it also insures greateraccuracy of registration so thatthe images on the finished platesprepared therefrom will be in correct regist er. The device is of arugged, durable construction and its manipulation requires no manual'dexterity or technical knowledge on the part of the operator over thatpossessed by the layman.-

pages printed on the opposite side of the sheet a and in securingabsolute uniformity of margins throughout book signatures, newspaperproducts or other printed matter. A number of other useful features ofour rack such as its use in the transposition of subjects in matrices,the location of inserts, and, in fact any operations of the generalcharacter indicated wherever registration is necessary or desirable,might be mentioned as claims rather than to the foregoing description toindicate the scope of the invention.

What we claim is: g

1. A register rack for use in connectionwith multi-color printing,comprising a base, a frame hingedly mounted on the base, said baseserving as a mount for a matrix, means for centering said matrix on thebase relatively to the frame, a plurality of members adjustably mountedin the frame for determining the position of registration points on thematrix, and other means secured to the frame for uniformly marking saidmatrix simultaneously on a plurality of adjacent edges with respect tosaid points for trimming preparatory to casting printing platestherefrom.'

2. A device of the kind described comprising a frame, center-positioningmeans for a key matrix secured to said frame, a plurality of membersmounted on the frame for determining register points on the key matrix,other means operably mounted on the frame for uniformly marking said keymatrix simultaneously on a plurality of adjacent edges after beingcentered and after the register points thereon are determined wherebyafter said matrix is marked, a .plurality of other matrices may besimilarly marked, and printing plates prepared from all of said matricesmay be in correct register for multi-color printing.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a base, a frame hingedlysecured to said base,- ad- .justable centre-positioning members securedto the frame for correctly aligning therewith center lines on a keymatrix, a pliirality of other members movably secured to the frame, saidmembers being adjustable for determining register points on, said keymatrix when mounted on said base, a plurality of punches operablymounted on the frame for marking said matrix and other matricesuniformly with respect to said register points, and means to lock theframe to slidably secured to the frame and adjustable relatively to eachother, a plurality of arms pivotably secured to the frame, each of saidarms having register points thereon movable in at least two directions,and a shaft rockingly mounted on the frame, guides fastened to theframe, and punches reciprocatingly mounted in said guides said shafthaving gears engaged with said reciprocating punches.

.5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, aframe, slidably adjusts able positioning members secured to the framefor determining the position for a key matrix plurality of punchesmounted on the frame and actuated by said operating lever for markingthe margins of said key matrix and then the margins of each of aplurality of matrices located by said tion of the key matrix.

, register points in correspondence with the posi 6. In a matrixregister rack for use in connecrtion with multi-color printing, a base,a frame hingedly mounted on the base having members adjustable tocorrespond with register points on the matrix, meansr's ecured to theframe for cut- "ting edges of said matrix, said means including punchinginstrumentalities and guides therefor,

and manually operable means including a gear and a coacting rack foractuating the said punching instrumentalities.

7. A device ofthe character described, comprising in combination, aframe, positioning members secured to the frame for determining theposition for a key matrix in the frame, a plurality of elements securedto said frame for determining register points on the key matrix, anoperating lever connected to the frame, and a plurality of punchesmounted on the frame and actuated by said operating lever for markingthe margin of'said key matrix and then the margins of each of aplurality of matrices located by said register points in correspondencewith the position of the key matrix.

8. A combination as specified in claim 6 wherein a pair of positioningelements are provided, saidelements being arranged in transverserelation relatively to one another and adjustably mounted on the frame.

' ALBERT. L. LENGEL.

ERNEST G. BEVERIDGE.

